Visceral Lesions in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Abstract
Summary The autopsy reports from 3 cases of rheumatoid arthritis are given. The duration of the disease was 10 years, 5 months, and 4 years, respectively. All the cases showed visceral lesions in the form of granulomatous, necrotizing granulation tissue. The histologic structure of the large granulomas was the same as that of the subcutaneous, rheumatoid noduli. Granulomas were found in the following organs: Case 1 — in lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and lymph nodes; Case 2 — in lungs and hilus lymph nodes; Case 3 — in lungs, cardiac valves and striated musculature. In Case 1 also arteritis was found in the meninges, perineurium of the peripheral nerves and the striated musculature. ACTH and cortisone were used as therapeutics for two of the three cases, but prolonged treatment was given in only one case. The possible connection between the visceral lesions and the articular condition is discussed.